FERGUSON, Mo. — Two teens are hosting a movie night Friday night in Ferguson to help cover the medical costs for families impacted by radioactive waste.
Caroline Pingel, a junior at Cor Jesu Academy, and Elise Norman, a senior at Lindbergh High School, will host a movie night showing "The Incredibles" at 5:30 p.m. at the Emerson YMCA in Ferguson.
Tickets will be $3 for children and students and $5 for everyone else. Tickets can be purchased in advance.
Pingel and Norman will be 100% donating all of the proceeds to the Medication and Antibiotic Fund at the BJC Christian Northeast Hospital.
The teens have secured a string quartet, food, and activities for children.
"They also hope to raise awareness" about people who suffer from radiative waste dumped into communities, Executive Director at Gateway YMCA Caroline Mitchell said.
Pingel and Norman teamed up last year for an annual YMCA contest called "Changemakers," according to Caroline Pingel's mother, Carrie Pingel.
"The contest was about how these teens can make a difference in their local community," Pingel said.
The program they created covered the harmful effects of radioactive waste within north St. Louis County. Pingel and Norman were selected to attend the Y-USA Changemakers Conference in June 2023.
The pair turned a school assignment about Cold Water Creek into a passionate plea for environmental issues.
They made it to the top sixth spot nationally and although they were unable to secure funding, their efforts have persisted.
Pingel and Norman have since established the St. Louis Nuclear Radiation Initiative.
"The movie night was their idea," Mitchell said. "We have been supporting them but this is their event."
According to Mitchell, Pingel and Norman have found financial advisors and volunteers, and created a website for this cause. The teens also contacted elected officials, service clubs and the medical community, all while being students and participating in extracurricular activities.
"For young people to have that opportunity to lead something and to get a chance to learn from that," Mitchell said. "It's just exciting to see their passion for environmental justice."
Pingel and Norman recognized those who have helped them on their website: Tim Deposki, a Lindbergh High School teacher, the Gateway Region YMCA and Emerson YMCA.
If you would like to support this cause click here.
